RIGOR MORTIS Frontman Bruce Corbitt Pays Tribute To Mike Scaccia - "He Was Always There For Everyone, And I'm Blessed To Have Known Him"

December 30, 2012, 2 years ago

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RIGOR MORTIS frontman Bruce Corbitt recently spoke with Jay Nanda at the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner about the passing of guitarist Mike Scaccia - also a member of MINISTRY - who died while performing with the band on December 23rd at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, TX at a show celebrating Corbitt's 50th-birthday. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Q: I want to give you the chance to express what he meant to you in all the years you knew him. Can you kind of sum up how you will remember Mike?

Corbitt: "Well, if I picked the one most important person of my life, not counting my own family and brother, it would be Mike Scaccia. I've said it from the beginning, I would've never been in a band or started singing in a band if I didn't become friends with Mike. And now here I am 30 years later, I'm still doing tours and making albums. I owe everything to him. Because when I met him, I was just a fan, into music. I had dreams like everybody. Veteran air guitarist, but never bothered to learn to play an instrument and kind of too shy to try to sing. But we became close friends, and I realized this was a guy that was put on this earth to play his guitar. Somebody with greatness, who had a gift. I wanted to be in a band with him so bad because he would make us all look good. I didn't even know how to sing, but somehow, because I had long hair (and) I could party all night (laughs) -- it's a true story. That's kind of how I got the job. I'm talking about our first band called SPECTRUM. It didn't last too long, and Mike went his own way. We stayed in touch here and there, but a few years later, when he started Rigor Mortis with Casey Orr and Harden Harrison, again I wanted to be in a band with Mike so bad, I did everything I could. He was such a humble guy. He was never going to brag about himself, but I always said, 'Man, I'm Mike Scaccia's No. 1 fan,' and I sure didn't have any trouble going out and telling everyone what a great guitarist he is. I'm going to miss him every day for the rest of my life."

Q: Is there anything specific you'd like the metal community and general public to know about him?

Corbitt: "Well, just, when you've got someone like that with such a talent to not have an ego at the same time, that's a rare combination. You just don't find that very often. That's the thing, you know. Such a great guy, great friend. He had such a sense of humor. He made our lives more fun when we were around him. He was such a family-oriented guy with his parents and his sisters and his wife and kids. Can't say anything bad about Mike Scaccia, man, you know? He was always there for everyone, and I'm blessed to have known him."

"I just lost my lil' brother and my best friend. The 13th Planet compound is devastated, completely in shock and shattered. Mikey was not only the best guitar player in the history of music, but he was a close, close, close part of our family — and I just lost a huge chunk of my heart today. Our lives are forever changed. Life without Mikey is like orange juice without pulp — kind of bland. I have no words to express what this guy meant to me, my family, my career... everything!

Get to know his lead parts, for they are in the pantheon of music! Unfortunately, most of you didn't get to know Mikey's soul, which is in the pantheon of humanity. He is my hero, my friend and my idol. Mikey was always beside me - my right-hand man - through thick and thin, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.

Rest in peace my brother, my friend, my heart.

Please pray for Mike Scaccia and Jenny, his wife and their children, and his family."